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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on October 5th, 2019. Ben Rolfe's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Another two-game slate for us today, with the NL having their first mid-series break. That leaves us with the four AL teams to choose from, as the Houston Astros host the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees host the Minnesota Twins.
The two home teams are reasonably big favorites in this one, but the intrigue for the slate comes in the totals. The total in Houston is just 7.5, compared to 9.5 in the game in New York.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/5/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @benrolfe15.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Gerrit Cole, HOU (vs. TB) - $10,800
Cole has been incredible this season and has taken it to another level in the second half. Since the All-Star Break, he has a 1.79 ERA, .160 batting average against and 156 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings. In total this season he has 326 strikeouts in 212 1/3 innings. This is the easiest call of this entire slate.
Blake Snell, TB (@ HOU) - $7,500
This is where it gets difficult because with just four pitchers there is not a lot to work with. You can rule Dobnak out almost immediately, and Masahiro Tanaka has been so up and down this season. Therefore, I am going to take a risk and throw Blake Snell into the lineup. The Rays desperately need this game. They had some success against Cole earlier in the year, and if they lose this one they then have to win a game against Justin Verlander. Therefore, I think we see Snell go five or so innings deep, and with that should come some strikeouts and good performance. Since returning from injury he has struck out 11 in just six innings but has also had some issues with walks. In GPP this is the play, but in cash I might go for the slight safety of Tanaka, especially with some pitcher-friendly weather in New York.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Jason Castro, MIN (@ NYY) - $3,400
My general philosophy is going to be, take the cheapest Twins or Yankees hitter if noone springs off the page as a must-have. That is the case here, although Castro does have solid numbers against right-handed hitters, with a .254 batting average, 13 home runs, .244 ISO and a .358 wOBA.
1B - C.J. Cron, MIN (@ NYY) - $3,700
This is a case of I really do not like this position and I am just looking for value. Cron's only real redeeming feature here is that he a .275 batting average, .245 ISO and a .354 wOBA on the road. His numbers are pretty poor against right-handed hitters, but I just want to save cash here to load up on the expensive pitching.
2B - Gleybar Torres, NYY (vs. MIN) - $4,000
Torres has fantastic numbers against both handed pitchers and that is important in the playoffs, where teas mix and match pitchers regularly. Against right-handed pitchers, which opposing starter Randy Dobnak is, he has a .256 ISO and a .352 wOBA.
3B - Alex Bregman, HOU (vs. TB) - $4,800
Bregman has incredible numbers against left-handed pitchers this season with a .350 batting average, .393 ISO and a .473 wOBA.
SS - Jorge Polanco, MIN (@ NYY) - $4,100
This is a nice combination for Polanco, who has been better at home and against right-handed pitchers this season. On the road against righties, he has a .326 batting average, .259 ISO and a .400 wOBA.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Eddie Rosario, MIN (@ NYY) - $4,500
Rosario has had a solid season all around, and this price feels like a bargain. Against right-handed pitchers, he has a .274 batting average, .244 ISO, and a .331 wOBA.
Brett Gardner, NYY (vs. MIN) - $4,200
All of the good things Gardner has done this season has been against right-handed pitchers. Against righties, he has a .265 batting average. .281 ISO and a .368 wOBA.
Jake Marisnick, HOU (vs. TB) - $3,000
This is the key to my strategy in playing both the pitchers in Houston and Tampa Bay game. If MArisnick is in the lineup then $3,000 is a great price even if he does not score more than a point or two. Marisnick has a .196 ISO and a .301 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. Not great, but frankly we are just looking for anything from him at this price.
